Top of the league and top of the world.
I used to love cars. Spent a fortune on them over the years.
The one I loved the most was a 1966 MGB Roadster. I bought it in 1990, it had been restored lovingly to concourse condition by an enthusiast who came on hard times during that particular recession.
I saw the pictures of it before the chap had worked his magic. Even then it looked nice and he said it had always been reliable. But afterwards? Oh, it was a thing of beauty. Stainless steel wire wheels, leather upholstery – the whole nine yards.
Of course he might have not bothered and simply sold it and bought a nice new Golf GTi. Thankfully he didn’t. He worked with what he had and in the end he produced a work of art. Can you see where this is going?
Yes? Thought so.
Well our wonderful set of players are quickly turning into a thing of beauty. Just as my MGB was.
Even when, like yesterday, it’s just cruising around in second gear.
I thought yesterday was a very professional job. We started off totally dominant although never getting into top gear. After the Welsh Wizard scored the opener, we dropped back into second. And paid the price. Not that an equalizer had looked on the cards, but we had stopped dominating.
But what happened next?
Well we moved up into third again and wrested control back. And it looked like we could , if need be, move through the gears further if it became necessary. It looked to me that the many games this eleven has played recently meant they were happy to conserve energy and win with as little physical exertion as possible. That’s what we did.
Three points and top of the league.
I don’t want to go over the top in praise of the team, because it could come back to bite me on the bum.
However, I am as happy with this team and squad as I have been since 2004.
I love this bunch of lads and I love what I am seeing.
Happy days.
Positively Arsenal 
DC
good luck mate.
ANICOLL
hahaha, I won’t. I just expected it to be very similar to English.
LIMESTONE
maybe ARSENAL had it in mind to fire the prick anyways. I mean every week even when they were playing well he would talk his ” bite the hand that feeds you ” brand of talkshit. There must have been many dissatisfied with his work and let ARSENAL know it..
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Kam, I know there were many other complaints, even a petition a couple years earlier. Just glad to have helped. Certainly has made my watching of AP more enjoyable.
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Nothing. Not even the staticee eastern European streams. I lucked out with the pubs too. Good luck to the boys anyways.. C O Y G
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Sure. It feels good to be empowered. And good to know ARSENAL listen to their fan base.
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So the kids are doing all right? Hayden plays, that’s exciting.
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Oh dear, Hayden booked.
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Away support doing its job. That’s all I can hear!
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Who’s the referee?
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Monreal too. 5k Gooners, apparently. A quarter or more at the ground–can hear them on the AP commentary.
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FUNGUN
yes, very exciting. Only two players from the team that started against stokiees. I was wrong about the SACKER. he got the call up. But allready I’m hearing and reading from folks that say AW didn’t take this game seriously. Do they not know ARSENAL?. this is where the young get a chance . And have they not looked at the schedule to see our next four games?.
Eisfeld to get a goal. You heard it here.
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Referee . Robert MADley. oh boy. Lets hope not too badly.
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So first half was a rehearsal, let’s go for it and try to get some fluency in the second half.
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Never heard of Madley.
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Typical Eisfeld.
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Got to hand it to Bendtner, his fitness is much better than I would have expected after a recent operation and no playing in matches. Credit to him.
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Aww, big chance for Bendy after a brilliant pass by Gnabry but he waited too long. I think we look a bit fresher now and this might make the difference.
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COYG
come on you scruffy shogan warrior. Get us a goal to face chavski in next round. One of only two team able to pick them apart. Come on . Get it everything you got.
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Jenkinson does not stop, does he? He has been running up and down for 120 minutes now.
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Penalties…
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Yes! 11 away wins in a row now?
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Hahaha. Excellent. Let me catch my breath.
YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
ARSENAL KIDS WIN..!!!!!
Super effort on everyone’s part specially AW.
I CALLED THE GOAL SCORER. on to next round baby….
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My legs are like jelly! Fantastic reward for our hard-working, never-say-die lads. Props to Olsson for his penalty and Bellerin sounded like he was a real menace.
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Andrew’s boy Bellerin sounded like he made a very noticeable impact.
Now PG
Please get rid of that damn title…….
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Hahahaha
Now FUNGUN & EVERYONE. ALTOGETHER NOW..
we’re on top of the world looking down on creation…..
Motm??
I suppose Thomas deserves it. But all guys deserve applause.
How many guys opened their scoring account for ARSENAL TODAY. three , four??
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I love penalties on the radio
Never in doubt
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BOOM SHAKASHAKA BOOM…
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It is fun to listen to pens on the radio, especially when we win in dramatic come from down one to win! Great stuff. Field the youth vs. Chelsea as well, I say!
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Of the young ‘uns playing, I was most impressed by Bellerin and Akpom. Both came on as substitutes and were played out of position, but both managed ton contribute a lot. Bellerin carved out a couple of chances for himself and seems to possess a decent shot while Akpom is really strong on the ball, coupled with a decent engine. West Brom couldn’t get the ball off him without kicking him, and he’s 17!
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11 straight away wins!
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Going by the AP commentary, Merts was man of the match for me. Let’s say “Endeavour” or “Courage” or “Team Spirit” was MOTM.
I bet alabamagooner is crying despite these being non-Rambo-related circumstances.
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Anicoll,
never in doubt indeed!
I’d guessed a penalty shootout at the end of the first half. Extra beers ordered.
Not bad at all from NB23, he was a playmaker more than a striker –
The rust will rub-off easily.
Lt. commander Arteta – all I can say is his name is on the back of my Arsenal shirt. Seriously. I’m still wearing it. He will always take the yellow card to save the team.
I can’t believe the Kids were that awesome. (actually I never doubted it). WBA kicked the shit out of them, but they never buckled.
Tommy made 1 mistake defending a corner, but as he and Bentner haven’t played together in 3 years it was understandable. I loved him charging over half the pitch to square up to Steven Reid for a horrible challenge on Ryo ( one of a dozen on the lad).
Per = fection.
Fabby, superb! a goalie makes players miss penalties.
Did I say well done to the Kids?
Getting the chavs in them next round is cruel fate.
OTOTBOTBAG
.
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LST,
You were instrumental in getting bitter Robson sacked?
Serious kudos to you.
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ALABAMA
Olson looks a bit like Aaron’s little brother.
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The game was live on Al Jazira Sports Channel 3.
Allah knows what the fuck was on channels 1 and 2 tonight.
This is where misogynists andy grey and Richard keys have been washed-up on.
At least the sound was was down, because the 90 percent plastic supporters in the bar were watching manure vs Mickey Mousers on the bigger screen.
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Evil
Credit to Ryo and Gnarby too..they put in terrific shifts.
Gnarby tired a bit but he played on Sunday so that is understandable.
Eis, Eis, baby!
No strength in depth?, arse!
Did I say the Kids scored penalties? The kids? That is fucking bottle of the highest order.
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good call there g’kam, Eisfeld took his goal with aplomb.
Great assist by NB23.
Per was MOTM by a bit.
Akpom & Bellerin did do well but I have to say I dig Olsson.
Calm, patient & concise with his movement & passes. Looks a keeper.
MOTM2 was Nacho for his steady composure in attack & defence and ofcourse the sealant penalty.
Jenks & Arteta were awesome as well.
Ryo & Gnabry will improve with more games I hope
well done our team
Chelski, next on deck.
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Anicoll
Did the radio sound like this?
….and the West Brom keeper dives to the right, goal!
….and the West Brom keeper dives to the right. Good save, hard luck Grarby.
….and the West Brom keeper dives to the right, goal!
….and the West Brom keeper dives to the right, goal!
….and the West Brom keeper dives to the right, goal!
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darn it RADIO..u lucky b****rds!
..and I only got to watch it on tv!
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“I’m very proud because we played with many young players and they showed they are not only good football players, but they can fight as well,” Arsène Wenger.
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“I decided to go for young players on the penalties and they coped well with the pressure. Players who had not played two hours – they were fresh, everybody else had cramp, so you take in the end what is left. They coped well with it. Sometimes it is technically not the most difficult but it’s more dealing with the pressure. It’s good because it’s always good to know you can win when you think you’re dead and tired. If you dig deep until the end you are rewarded, that’s a very important lesson for a young player.”
Is the MAN ever wrong?
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Before I get the head eaten off me on here:
TV5’s mistake, and it due to rust, is that he ran into the same position as Bentner was in defending a corner, (nearly all corners were defended very well). hence leaving a gap behind him for WBA to score in.
He will need weeks to get used to the nuances on zonal defending, as does Nik Benter too., but it is great to have an extra big lad in the box to clear out headers.
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Fantastic *away (cough, shame on you WBA) #home support!
The Gooners owned the Hawthorns tonight. Where the fuck were the home fans?
Paying to see the Arsenal, at home? In an eminently winnable cup game not big time enought for them? They let their club down badly.
A full and noisy Hawthorns might just have been the difference for West Brom tonight, it certainly would have made it an even tougher baptism of fire for our kids.
diid I say how well they did tonight?
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Thanks AMAN. we need a celebratory song. DJ AMAN IN THE HOUSE.
AW was so happy. Sounded like a proud papa.
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4 teenagers (another 3 came in as subs), 2 fringe players (NB, Fabs), 3 bench players (TV, Jenks, Nacho) and just the 2 current first team regulars, and a fine show they put on. It’s not that they were as fluent and sharp as one would wish, some lapses and naivety, and the opposition were tough, cynical and dangerous from the flanks; but such spirit, vitality we continually carved out brilliant openings, all night, such a pleasure to see, and the defensive work over the pitch was excellent; Wengerball – in the principles – at its best. So we won. Come on then Chelsea, what have you got? Akpom, Eisfeld, Bellerin, Ryo, Hayden, Olsson, and a tired looking Gnabry, all showed glimpses that they are whispering at the door, and without otherwise certain starters Zelalem, Sanogo, Frimpong, Arsenal has awesome depth in youth. I was personally impressed by Eisfeld, even though he got subbed, fluffed a couple, he put one away, has an uncanny “being in the right place” facility, and emotionally for me, he kind of resembles the great one (so I could be biased). NB looks technically good, way off the pace, but got the assist (a beauty) and played 90 minutes; and you know he will get better.
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Oh, and Nacho was the second best player on the pitch, almost ridiculous a player of his quietly efficient technical quality is not a first team regular, no wonder AW puts him on the left wing when needed. No prizes for who commanded and dominated at will though, despite tiredness and rustiness, the field marshal. Arsenal’s form in the last 19 reads won 16, drawn 2, lost one. When will the doomsayers learn? All together now, I’m looking … down on creation, and the only explanation I can find …
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ZIMPAUL
fantastic sumup. But then you have always had an eye for the intricacies of this game and our crew.
Just one thing, when talking about young EISFELD you mentioned the great one. Kindly please elaborate..
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There is only one great one, and Eisfeld has a vague familiar physical resemblance with him, maybe its the way he (Eisfeld) moves, or positions, or passes. Hard to say, nothing specific. Why DB, of course.
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ZimPaul
The Great One.
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Today’s post courtesy of Steww is now up:
http://positivelyarsenal.com
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